Tripod.



H. A. KI GHER.

TRIPOD.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 1909.

Patented Oct. 19,1909.

2 SHEETS-"SHEET 1.

Snucufoz H A. KIRGHER.

TRIPOD. APPLiOATION FILED A IB. 17, 1909- 937,612. I Patented 009191909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

#LW 9% MM MW UNITED sTAtras PATENT onrion.

HENRY A. .KIRCHEB,. OF CHEROKEE, IOWA..

warren.

Patented Oct. 19,1909.

Application filed April 17, 1909. Serial No. 490,548.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. Kinsman, citizen of the United States, residing at Cherokee, in the county of Cherokee and ber. Fig. 4, 1s a fra State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tripods, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to tripods of that type employed inconjunction with cameras, and more particularly to that class in which the head or member to which the camera is attached, when in use, is capable of being adjusted in both a vertical and lateral direction in planes at right angles to each other to bring the object of which a likeness is to be taken in the proper position in the field of vision without altering the position of the legs of the tri od or disturbing the focus. The invention rther relates to tripods in which a bracing device is employed in order to hold the legs thereof firmly and rigidly in sition. g I he objects of my invention are to pro vide first, an improved arrangement and construction of parts for regulating the .positions of the camera upon elevation of the tripod showing the "movement of the vertical y adjustable member in, dotted lines. Fig. 3, is of the tripod frame, show' the pivotal connection of the laterally adwstable memntary vertical sectional view taken on t e line 4-4 of Fig.1. Fig. 5, is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5--,5 of Fig; A, Fig. 6, is a pers 've view of tripod head, and its mova d members. I

- In the embodiment illustrated A repre-. sents the frame whichis rectilinear in shape and has formed at its corners the radially exmember 1, 1, in which are y supported thelegs 2, 2,. bym'eans tendinfi looped pivota tension 9, firmly and substantially supported. I

a the movement of the laterally, adjustable member. Fig. 2,'is a side a fragmentary view of the bolts or rivets 3, 3, thus allowing for the free movement of the legs toward or away from the center of the frame.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, B is a. plate which is sup orted flush with the top of frame A and lias portions cut away in order to decrease the weight of the same, thus forming the arms-4, 4, which are bent downwardly at right angles and are held firmly in connection withthe frame A, by means of the rivets 5, o.

The lower plate 0, which like plate B is of spider form also has portions cut away thereby forming arms similar to those of the upper late B, these arms being securely fastened to the frame A by means of rivets 6, 6, which are so placed that the bottom of the plate C is disposed flush with the bottom edges of the frame A.

Pivotally supported upon the frame A by means of the'rivets 7 7, which form an axis. of rotation is the laterally swing'able member D, to which is hingedly connected the vertically swingable plate E. The front end of the-swingable member D, is disposed "at right angles to the top thereof, and has formed at its lower extremity an inwardly extending right angular bend 8, which swings about the slotted and arc-shaped exwhich depends from one end of the frame 10, which receives the thumb screw 11, through the slot 12 in the extension 9, thus enabling the member D to be firmly clamped at anythe slot.-

desired angle within the scope of The top plate of the laterally swingable member I) is formed at its rear end with an outwardly projectin curve, at the termination 'of which, depen s the rear pivoted arm of the said member D, disposed at right angles to the top plate thereof..' The vertically swingable member E has pivotal movement upon the member D through the medium of the A, and is engaged by a lock nut' I hinge 13, which is fastened to the said member of means of rivets or in any other suitable manner. The outer and under portion of the swingable member E is provided with depending ears 14, 14,

and a pin 15, which adapts it to receive in ivotal connection the adjustable supportmg rod .16, which carries in pivotal relation at its lower endthe block 17. Securely fastened'to the front of the laterally swingable member 1), by means of integral flanges 19,

19, is the guide or runway 18, which receives in slidable engagement the pivoted block 17,

' of rod 16, the same being adjustable in the proximate center with suita tripod, serves to firmly form an *in the said rods at any length of the runway and adapted to be clamped at any desired point within the scope of screw20, which passes through and plays within the slot 21.

The top plate E is provided-at its apa perforation 22, screw 23, used for through which passes a u'rpose of securing a camera or other the said plate E. The box shaped formation 24, around the shank of the screw 23, is suitably secured to the plate E by means of rivets or otherwise, and serves as a retainer for the said screw 23, when the same is not in use by engagement with the shoulder formed by the screw threaded part, and also threaded into the shank of the adjusting sleeve 27, andwhen clamped prevents move-,

ment of the same. a The legs), 2, of the tripod are tubular" in e legs 2 2 clamp: rovided fo r secures'ired position. a

n operatmg the tripod, the screws 31, 31,

mg. screws 31,31, beingare first loosened, thus allowing the rods 30, Y 30, to be extended to any desired position after which the screws 31, 31, are securely fastened in such adjusted position. The legs are then spread radially until their upper portions come to met within the looped corners 1, 1, of the frame sleeve 27 which inthe meantime has moved upon the shaft 26 is then clamped against if it is desired to swm the laterally 'swin y rigidly other instrument is then secured to the plate rther movement by means 0 the screw 29", thus the tripod is substantially and supported. The camera or E by means of the screw 23 after which the same ma be tilted to any within t e of swingable members desired angle movements of the abIe member D may be moved by 'sligh y loose the thumb screw'll, after which the sai member may the runway by means of the thumble instrument upon the top of the' bers mounte B and C, is'se I race they said legs :agamstmovement. The thumb screw 29 nclose rods 30, 30, which are of .the same length as the. le s and are adapted to be slid into-or out of th one end to said frame, .member being turned downwardly, means A, the winged D and E. v For instance, a camera to the right.

connected to an opposite beclamped by retightening the thumb screw. The vertically swingable member E is caused to be moved and adjusted by means of the rod 16, in cooperation with the screw 20, and the block 17, in a manner similar to the above described member D.

It is evident that more or less slight changes might be 'resorted to in the form, arrangement and construction of the several elements combined without departin from the spirit .and sco e of the invention. I therefore do not WlSh to be limited to the exact construction as herein set'forth.

' Havin what I c aim as new and 1. In a tripod the combination with a frame havin pivoted legs, of pivoted memon said frame, with horizontal axes at right angles to each other and means for securing said members in any desired position.

2. In a tripod, the combination with 'a frame having internal radial looped members, of legs pivotally mounted therein and ada ted to have their outward movement limited by en of said loope members and slidable means for bracing the said legs against movement.

3. Ina tripod, the combination with a frame havin bers-mounte on. said frame w1th horizontal axes at right anglesto each other, slidable means for regulating the swing of said members and means for clamping the members against movement.v

4. In a tripod, a frame, a'plate atthe top and a plate at the bottom of said frame, arms carried by each plate havingtheir free extremities turned toward the center of and rigidly secured to said frame, said frame at 'one end thereof being formed with a depending extension. provided with an areshaped slot, a member pivotally secured at e other end of said carried by said last named end of the member and projecting in said arc-shaped slot whereby'said. member may beclamped to said frame extension, a second member hinged at one end to the-rear end of the top of said first member, a rod ivotally connected to the free end of said second member, a' guide secured to the downwardly 'turned end of said first member, said rod of thesecond member. being slidably received in said guide,

a member havin downwardly an pivotally secured to frame, means whereby the member may be adjustably end of said frame g one end thereof 5. vIn a tripod, a. frame, each of its ends turned having one of said ends one end of said other end of said a second member hav' thus fully described my invention useful and desire .to secure by Letters Patent, is:

agement with the outer parts and means for securing the free end of said rod to said' guide.

hingedly connected to one end of the top of said first member, a depending supporting rod pivotally connected to the free end of said second member, and means whereby said rod at its lower end is adjustably secured to the last named end of the first member.

(5. In a tripod, a frame having integral radial looped members, legs pivotally mounted therein, a plate at the'top and a plate at the bottom of said frame, arms formed 011 each plate having their free extremities turned toward the center of and rigidly secured to said frame, arod secured to each. of said plates and depending from the lower plate, a winged sleeve slidably and adjustably' mounted upon said rod, a plurality of rods pivotally mounted in the winged extensions of said sleeve, and a plurality of flanged collars supported upon the flange formed'with the lower edge of said" frame, a swingable m mber pivotally mounted upon saidframe, the front end of the swingable member being turned downwardly and disposed at right angles to the top thereof, an inwardly bent flange formed at the lower end of the said front arm, a nut carried by the said inwardly bent flange, and a screw received by said nut through the above named slot.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. KIRCHER.

\Vitnesses:

E. C. Hermon, \Y. K. Hnnmcn. 

